Integrally molded plastic louver frame and assembly thereof

ABSTRACT

A louver assembly comprised of a plurality of interfitting integrally molded plastic frames, preferably constructed from glass filled polypropylene. The louver frames are integrally molded with flat side members, louvers and intermediate support members. The side members are flat with a flat front portion or extension displaced from the side member but parallel thereto Notches are integrally molded into the flat front portion to cooperate with projecting lips on the rear portion of the side member of adjacent frames to permit locking engagement between adjacent frames in a louver assembly. The louvers are arcuate louvers having intermediate flat members molded thereto for vertical support. The intermediate flat members are parallel to the side members and contain integrally molded guide means adapted to permit fastening of adjacent frames to each other in a louver assembly.

United States Patent 11 1 Box 1 1 Sept. 4, 1973 [76] Inventor: TheodorM. Box, 1 108 Aileen Rd,

Brielle, NJ.

[22] Filed: Feb. 18, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 227,394

[52] US. Cl 98/40 VM, 98/121 [51] Int. Cl F24f 7/00, F24f 13/08 [58]Field of Search 98/121, 122, 114, 98/40 VM; 138/120, 155; 52/473;259/180, 4; 220/236, 97 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,641,913 2/1972 Dennis 98/40 VM 3,627,393 12/1971 Hickson et al. 220/97R 3,424,334 l/l969 Goltz 220/236 3,358,577 12/1967 Thomson... 98/40 VM3,111,191 ll/1963 Bachert 181/56 2,395,319 2/1946 Davies 98/40 VM2,339,629 1/1944 Fischer, Jr 98/40 VM FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS1,287,951 2/1962 France 98/121 45,276 11/1961 Poland 98/40 VM 1,146,0293/1969 Great Britain 220/97 R Primary ExaminerMeyer Perlin AssistantExaminer-Jaul Devinsky Att0rney-James H. Callahan et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A louver assembly comprised of a plurality of interfittingintegrally molded plastic frames, preferably constructed from glassfilled polypropylene. The louver frames are integrally molded with flatside members, louvers and intermediate support members. The side membersare flat with a flat front portion or extension displaced from the sidemember but parallel thereto Notches are integrally molded into the flatfront portion to cooperate with projecting lips on the rear portion ofthe side member of adjacent frames to permit locking engagement betweenadjacent frames in a louver assembly.

The louvers are arcuate louvers having intermediate flat members moldedthereto for vertical support. The intermediate flat members are parallelto the side members and contain integrally molded guide means adapted topermit fastening of adjacent frames to each other in a louver assembly.

7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEB SE? 4 I915 sum 3 ar 3 INTEGRALLYMOLDED PLASTIC LOUVER FRAME AND ASSEMBLY THEREOF FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention is concerned with louver assemblies, particularly plasticlouver assemblies formed from a plurality of integrally molded rigidplastic louver frames.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The louver assemblies of this invention canbe used as aerators in chemical splash towers, in buildings as airventilators or wherever louvers are presently employed.

In louver construction, it is generally desirable to employ a louverassembly which is durable, rigid and economical. Previously, in order toproduce louvers of rigid construction in the most economical manner,wood or other inexpensive material was generally employed. Wood,however, while structurally strong, is subject to rapid deteriorationwhen used with certain caustic chemicals. Thus, the use of woodenlouvers is limitedto specific applications where the louvers are notsubjected to chemical attack or where they will be continuouslyreplaced. The former limits the range of applications and the latterincreases the cost.

Other materials such as metal have been suggested but in order toovercome the chemical deterioration the required type of materialnecessarily increases the cost. Thus, in constructing such louvers, ithas been impractical up to now to construct a louver assembly having thedesired mechanical strength and rigidity at a low cost.

It is also desirable to construct a louver assembly formed fromindividual louver frames designed to fit together to form the assembly.The individual elements, however, must maintain their rigidty and mustbe capable of easy removability and replacement. With wooden or metallouver frames it has been difficult to date to achieve economical framesdesigned for interlocking and easy removability.

A further feature desired in a louver assembly is the ability to varythe direction of the arcuate louvers and thereby provide different flowpatterns within the assembly.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to achieve thesedesired objectives by constructing a louver assembly of integrallymolded plastic louver frames of high rigidity and strength at a loweconomical cost.

It is a further object of the present invention to achieve these desiredobjectives by forming individual integrally molded louver frames adaptedto fit together to provide the desired width and size louver assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, theobjectives are achieved by constructing a louver assembly comprising aplurality of interfitting integrally molded plastic frames. The framesare constructed preferably from glass filled polypropylene and aremoldedwith flat side members having a flat front portion or extensiondisplaced away from but parallel to the side members. Integrally moldedinto the flat front portion are notches which combine with projectinglips on the rear portion of the side members to provide lockingengagement between adjacent frames when the frames are assembled into alouver assembly. The flat front portions of the frames, due to theirdisplacement from the side members, upon assembly overlap the rearportion of the adjacent frame to provide mating engagement betweenadjacent frames.

Within the frames a plurality of arcuate louvers are integrally moldedto the side members at substantially right angles thereto. In order toprovide vertical support for the louvers an intermediate flat member isprovided which is generally parallel to the side members. This supportmember also has molded to it a guide means adapted to receive a screw orother appropriate fastening device to permit fastening of adjacentframes to each other in a louver assembly.

The individual louver frames are designed so that the louvers, whenplaced in an assembly, have their arcuate members vertically displacedfrom each other.

As can readily be seen by the construction of louver frames in thismanner, louver assemblies can be fabricated of strong chemicallyresistant material for ready adaptation into assemblies of a desiredsize and form. Further, the frames can be interlocked into a rigidframework while capable of easy removal if so desired.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description and appended claimstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a louverassembly formed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of a louver assembly formed in accordancewith this invention;

FIG. 3 isa side cross-sectional view of a louver frame formed inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view illustrating in partial crosssection the guidemeans of the louver frame formed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of two frames formed in accordancewith this invention prior to their assembly into a louver assembly;

FIG. 6 is a partial side view of a louver assembly formed in accordancewith this invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating the guide means of thelouver frames, formed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 99 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the guide means and afastening device used to assemble two frames into a louver assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the Figures,there is shown in FIG. 1 a louver assembly 10 formed of interfittingindividual louver frames 11, 12 and 13. As shown in FIG. 1, the louverassembly provides a compact rigid assembly held together in a rigidframework. Further, the assembly, formed as it is of individualgenerally rectangular integrally molded plastic louver frames ll, 12 and13, can be economically assembled into an integral unit from frames madeof relatively impervious material such as glass filled polypropylene.Additionally, because the frames are integrally molded they providedstrength and rigidity at lost cost. When assembled in guide posts 28 tospring load the cover 26 and urge the cover toward its sealing positionas shown in FIG. 3.

In order to raise the cover 26 from its closed position (FIG. 3) againstthe biasing of springs 34 to its open position (FIG. 2), an eccentricmeans in the form of an arm 36 is fixed to a rotating shaft 38 which isrotatably mounted on the framework 10. The eccentric arm 36 is connectedto the cover 26 by means of U-shaped link members, generally designated40. The link members 40 each has the end of one leg 40a thereofpivotally connected to the eccentric arm 36 and the end of the other leg40b thereof pivotally connected to the cover 26. Thus, on rotation ofthe shaft 38 in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 3), the eccentric arm 36will rotate with the shaft and cause the U-shaped link members 40 tomove to the position shown in FIG. 2, raising the cover 26, and with theshaft 38 disposed within the curvature of the U-shaped link members 40.As can be seen in FIG. 2, with the cover raised and the U-shaped linkmembers 40 in the position shown, lines passing through th pivotconnections of the link members to the eccentric arms 36 and cover 26 asdisposed overcenter (to the right in FIG. 2) of the rotating shaft 38,and thereby holds the cover in its raised or open position against thedownward biasing of springs 34.

In order to rotate the shaft 38 to raise the cover 26, a manuallymanipulatable lever arm, generally designated 42, (FIG. 4) is pivotedintermediate its ends, as at 44, to the framework 10. The lever arm 42has one end 42a provided with a flange 42b for manual manipulation by auser of the machine, particularly to depress the end 42a of the leverarm downwardly in the direction of arrow B (FIG. 4) toward the phantomposition shown. The opposite end of the lever arm 42 is provided with anarcuate gear rack 42c concentric to the pivot 44 of the lever arm and inmesh with a gear 46 fixed to the shaft 38 so that the shaft will rotateto open the cover 26 in response to a user pushing down on the lever end42a, as described above.

Means are provided to start the cycle of operation of the copyingmachine automatically in response to raising the cover 26 from itsclosed to its open position. Such means includes a switch, generallydesignated 48 in FIG. 4, and a cam member 50 fixed for rotation with theshaft 38. As is apparent, rotation of the shaft 38 in the direction ofarrow A (FIG. 3) causes the cam member 50 also to move in the samedirection, as indicated by arrow C (FIG. 4). The switch 48 has a rollermember 52 disposed in the path of rotation of the cam 50 so that whenthe cam is rotated, as described above, it will engage the roller 52 andactuate the switch 48 to automatically start a cycle of operation of thecopying machine as the cover 26 is raised.

Means is provided to move the cover 26 back from its open to its closedpositions automatically at a predetermined point in the cycle ofoperation of the copying machine. More particularly, as is known, manysuch copying machines employ endless chains or belts to move certainoperative components such as a platen which carries the original to becopied. With the invention herein, a pin member 54 (FIG. 4) is mountedon a chain, belt or the like, indicated by the dot-dash line 56, formovement into the path of the flange 42b of the lever arm 42 when thelever arm is in its lower position as shown in phantom, and with thecover raised. As the pin 54 moves with the chain or belt 56 in thedirection of arrow D during a cycle of operation of the copying machine,the pin will come into contact or strike the underside of the flange 42bwhich thereby overcomes the over-center condition of the U-shaped linkmembers 40 so that the springs 34 causes the cover 26 to automaticallyclose at that point during the cycle of operation of the machine. Aspring 58 (FIG. 4) also is provided between the end 42a of the lever arm32 and the framework of the copying machine to assist the springs 34 andto aid in returning the lever arm 42 back to the position shown in fulllines in FIG. 4. As the shaft 38 rotates with the link member 40 duringthe closing of the cover 26, the cam member 50 will become disengagedfrom the roller 52 of the switch 48 and break the contacts of the switchto stop the operation of the copying machine automatically in responseto closing the cover 26.

FIGS. 5 through 7 show an embodiment wherein means are provided toautomatically close the cover for the developer trough automaticallywhen the copying machine is lifted off of a supporting surface 60, suchas a tabletop or the like, to prevent spillage of the developer liquidduring transportation of the copying machine. Although the configurationof certain of the components are slightly different from comparablecomponents shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, like numerals have been appliedwhere applicable, for clarity purposes. With the apparatus shown inFIGS. 5 through 7, the cover 26 for the developer trough 12 is fixed toa plurality of vertically extending legs 62, two legs on each side ofthe copying machine. The legs of each pair on opposite sides of themachine are connected to a common shoe or foot means 64 on the undersideof the framework 10 whereby the cover 26, legs 62 and shoes 64 comprisea unitary structure for vertically reciprocating movement relative tothe framework of the machine. The legs 62 are vertically reciprocatablyreceived in brackets 66 providing guiding support for said unitarystructure. In essence, the shoes 64 (and legs 62) thereby are yieldablymounted so as to move upwardly to a retracted position shown in FIGS. 5and 6 relative to the framework of the copying machine when the copyingmachine is placed on the supporting surface 60, and to move to anextended position as shown in FIG. 7 under gravity and under the biasingof springs 68 which surround the legs 62 when the machine is lifted offof the supporting structure. With the cover 26 rigidly fixed to the legs62, the cover will move therewith to a sealing position on top of thedeveloper trough 12 as shown in FIG. 7 when the machine is lifted andtransported, thereby preventing spillage of the developer liquid 14.When the machine is repositioned on a supporting structure, the shoes 64and legs 62 will be forced upwardly or retracted and thereby raise thecover 26 to its open position.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in theart.

We claim:

1. In a copying machine which includes a framework on which is mounted adeveloper trough for containing developer liquid through which copypaper or the like is passed, a cover for sealing said trough to preventevaporation loss or spillage of the developer liquid, said cover beingmovably mounted on said framework for movement between an open positionto permit the copy paper to be passed through the trough and a 5. Alouver assembly comprising a plurality of interfitting integrally moldedplastic frames each of said frames including front and back portionsrespectively dimensioned to provide mating engagement of the frontportion of one frame with the back portion of the adjacent frame, aplurality of louver members disposed within and carried by each saidframe, and locking means on said frames for maintaining said frames inassembled condition, at least one supporting member interconnectedbetween each of said louvers and adapted to provide support for saidlouvers, said supporting member comprising a substantially flat memberinterconnected between the louvers and to which each of said louvers isconnected, each of said support members having at least one integrallymolded guide means adapted to permit fastening of adjacent frames toeach other.

6. A louver assembly comprising a plurality of generally rectangularintegrally molded plastic frames having from and rear faces andincluding side members comprised of slat members having their flat sidesdisposed in facing relationship with opposed members, each of said sidemembers having a flat raised front portion parallel to said side membersand being joined to said side members along a front edge of said sidemember, said flat raised front portion adapted to overlap the backportion of an adjacent frame, and dimensioned to form an interfittingreceptacle for the rear face of a similar frame, at least oneintermediate supporting member disposed with its flat sidessubstantially parallel to said side members, said supporting member having at least one guide means integrally molded into said support memberfor the fastening of adjacent frames to each other, a plurality ofsubstantially parallel and symmetrically arranged louver members havingarcuate cross-sections disposed within said frame between said side andintermediate members and joined thereto at their ends, the arcuateportions of said louvers being oriented at an angular relation to theplanes defined by the faces of said frame, said front face to said sidemembers, and locking means on said frames for releasably maintainingsaid frame in engagement within a similar frame, said locking meanscomprising a plurality of notches inserted at the front edge of saidside members and a plurality of lips mounted to the back portion of saidside members, said notches and said lips adapted to releasably interlockand maintain said frames in assembled form.

7. A generally rectangular integrally molded plastic frame having frontand rear faces and including side members comprised of slat membershaving their flat sides disposed in facing relationship with opposedmembers, each of said side members having a flat raised front portionparallel to said side members and being joined to said side membersalong a front edge of said side member, said flat raised front portionadapted to overlap the back portion of an adjacent frame when saidframes are mounted in a louver assembly, at least one intermediatesupporting member disposed with its flat sides substantially parallel tosaid side members, in which said supporting member has at least oneguide means integrally molded into said. support member for thefastening of adjacent frames to each other, a plurality of substantiallyparallel and symmetrically arranged louver members having arcuatecross-sections disposed within said frame between said side andintermediate members and joined thereto at their ends, the arcuateportions of said louvers being oriented at an angular relation to theplane defined by the faces of said frame, said front face of said sidemembers dimensioned to form an interfitting receptacle for the rear faceof a similar frame, and locking means on said frames for releasablymaintaining said frame in engagement with a similar frame when saidframes are mounted in a louver assembly, comprising a plurality ofnotches inserted at the front edge of said side members and a pluralityof lips mounted to the back portion of said side members, said notchesand said lips adapted to releasably interlock and maintain said framesin assembled form when said frames are mounted in a louver assembly.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,756,138 Dated September 1973 Theodor M. Box

Inventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below;

The present columns 3 and 4 should be cancelled and the attached columns3 and 4 Patent No 3,756 ,138 substituted therefor, as part of LettersPatent Column 5 line 40 to should read of Column 6 line 1 "within"should read with Signed and sealed this 25th day of June 1974 'SEALlAttest:

EDWARD MgFLETCHERJ'R. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents FORM PC4050 (10459) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 U45. GOVERNMENT PRINTINGOFFICE: 1969 O-866-334,

' members 14 and are two substantially parallel slat.

this form, the assembly can be 653358 a splash tower in FIGS. 2, 3, 4and 5, the individual integrally molded plastic frames have front andrear faces with side members M and 15 having front and back portionsrespectively dimensioned to provide mating engagement of the frontportion of one frame with the back portion of the adjacent frame. Asshown, the side side members having their flat sides disposed in facingrelationship with opposed members. Molded to the front portion of sidemembers 14 and 15 are flat extensions or front portions 16 and 17displaced away from but parallel to the flat side members 14 and 15 Theflat raised front portions 16 and 17 are joined to the side members 14and 15 along the front edge of the side members and are designed tooverlap the rear portion 18 of an adjacent frame to form an interfittingreceptacle for the rear face or portion 18 of adjacent frame when theframes are assembled into a louver assembly, as shown in FIG. 6. Theoverlapping of the frames thus permits the mating engagement ofthe frontportion of one frame with the back portion of an adjacent frame.

It is also necessary, however, to provide some device to releasably'secure the individual frames togetherin a relatively easy manner whilesimultaneously insuring that the assembly will remain intact afterinstallation. In order to accomplish these requirements, a locking meansis providedon each frame.

Integrally molded into the front portion of the frames are a pluralityof notches 19 disposed at the junction of the flat side members 14 and15 and the front portions 16 and 17. At the rear of the side mem bers 14and 15, a plurality of. lips 20 are arranged to permit the releasableinterlocking engagement of the lips 20 in the notches 19 when the framesare joined aremounted to the edge of the back portion of each sidemember and are adapted to permit the removable locking engagement of thelips 20 in the notches 19. The manner in which'the frames areinterconnected by the notches and lips can clearly'be seen in FIGS.

4 arcuate member 21 in each adjacentlfrarne forms a common plane.However, by the unique combination of integrally molded louvers,notches, lips and flat raised front portions the arcuate louvers can bearranged in a louver assembly in various geometric configurations. Thus,as shown in FIG. 6, the arcuate louvers 21 can be arranged in adjacentframes at 180 angles to each other to form a cascading effect betweenthe louvers of adjacent frames. If so desired, however, becauseorn16uniquereaairsartrfisrfivfition, various permutations andcombinations of the arrangement of louvers in adjacent frames can beformed. Thus, for example, all the louvers in three adjacent frames canbe arranged to all face up or down, or however desired. I

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the louvers 21 are integrally molded to theside members 14 and 15 and have intermediate slat or support members 22disposed generally parallel to the side members 14 and 15 intermediatebetween them. The support members 22 are disposed with their flat sidessubstantially parallel to the side members 14 and 15. The supportingmember 22 is molded or connected to the louver 21 to thereby verticallysupport the louvers 21 in the portion between the side members 14 and15. Integrally molded into the support members 22 are guide means 23adapted to receive a rivet 24 or other similar fastener as shown in FIG.10 when the louver frames are mounted together into a louver assembly.In the foregoing, the inventionhas beendescribed inreference to specificexemplary embodiments. It will be evident, however, that variations andmodifications, aswnas'iri substitutionof equivalent constructions andarrangements for those shown for illustration, may be made withoutdeparting from the broader scope and spirit of the invention as setforth "in the appended claims. The specificationand draw- I together ina louver assembly. Preferably, the lips 20 6 and .9. As shown in FIG. 8,the remaining area of the side members 14 and 15 fit together inan'overlapping arrangement. V

Within each frame 11, 12 and 13 arcuate louvers 21 are integrally moldedat a slightdownward angle as shown in FIGS. 6 and7. Thisdownwardangle,when the assembly is used as a splash tower, permits the fluid tocascade down the individual frames as can be visualized from followingan imagined line of travel down the frame in FIG. 6. Thus, in each ofthe frames, disposed at substantially right angles to the side members14 and 1 5, are a plurality of parallel and substantially symmetricallyarranged arcuate louvers 21. The arcuate portions of the louvers 2lareoriented at an angular relationship to the plane defined by the faces ofthe frame. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the louvers, notches and lips inadjacent frames are arranged so that the arcuate louver members inadjacent frames are vertically displaced relative to each other when theframesare assembled. As shown in ings accordingly to be regarded in anillustrative rather than in arestrictive sense.

Whatis claimed is; V

1. An integrally molded rigid plastic louver frame comprising at leasttwo generally vertical side members, a plurality of parallelsubstantially rigid arcuate louvers connected to said side members atsubstantially right angles thereto, at least one flat supporting memberparallel to said side members to which each of said louvers is molded,said supporting member provided with at least one integrally moldedguide means for the fastening of adjacent supporting members to eachother when said frames are mounted into a louver assembly.

2. An integrally molded rigid plastic louver frame as set forthin claim1 in which the side members are provided with a locking means adapted toproperly position and fasten said louvers together when said frames aremounted into a louver assembly.

3. An integrally molded rigid plastic louver frame as set forth in claim2 in which the locking means comprises the combination of anotchinserted in the front portion of said side member and a lip mountedto the back portion of said side member, said lip and said notch adaptedto permit the locking engagement of said lip and said notch on adjacentframes when said frames are mounted into a louver assembly.

4. An integrally molded rigid plastic louver frame as setforth in claim3 in which the louvers are com prised of a plurality of parallel arcuatesubstantially rigid members disposed within each of said framesatsubstantially right angles to the sides of said frames.

1. An integrally molded rigid plastic louver frame comprising at leasttwo generally vertical side members, a plurality of parallelsubstantially rigid arcuate louvers connected to said side members atsubstantially right angles thereto, at least one flat supporting memberparallel to said side members to which each of said louvers is molded,said supporting member provided with at least one integrally moldedguide means for the fastening of adjacent supporting members to eachother when said frames are mounted into a louver assembly.
 2. Anintegrally molded rigid plastic louver frame as set forth in claim 1 inwhich the side members are provided with a locking means adapted toproperly position and fasten said louvers together when said frames aremounted into a louver assembly.
 3. An integrally molded rigid plasticlouver frame as set forth in claim 2 in which the locking meanscomprises the combination of a notch inserted in the front portion ofsaid side member and a lip mounted to the back portion of said sidemember, said lip and said notch adapted to permit the locking engagementof said lip and said notch on adjacent frames when said frames aremounted into a louver assembly.
 4. An integrally molded rigid plasticlouver frame as set forth in claim 3 in which the louvers are comprisedof a plurality of parallel arcuate substantially rigid members disposedwithin each of said frames at substantially right angles to the sides ofsaid frames.
 5. A louver assembly comprising a plurality of interfittingintegrally molded plastic frames each of said frames including front andback portions respectively dimensioned to provide mating engagement ofthe front portion of one frame with the back portion of the adjacentframe, a plurality of louver members disposed within and carried by eachsaid frame, and locking means on said frames for maintaining said framesin assembled condition, at least one supporting member interconnectedbetween each of said louvers and adapted to provide support for saidlouvers, said supporting member comprising a substantially flat memberinterconnected between the louvers and to which each of said louvers isconnected, each of said support members having at least one integrallymolded guide means adapted to permit fastening of adjacent frames toeach other.
 6. A louver assembly comprising a plurality of generallyrectangular integrally molded plastic frames having front and rear facesand including side members comprised of slat members having their flatsides disposed in facing relationship with opposEd members, each of saidside members having a flat raised front portion parallel to said sidemembers and being joined to said side members along a front edge of saidside member, said flat raised front portion adapted to overlap the backportion of an adjacent frame, and dimensioned to form an interfittingreceptacle for the rear face of a similar frame, at least oneintermediate supporting member disposed with its flat sidessubstantially parallel to said side members, said supporting memberhaving at least one guide means integrally molded into said supportmember for the fastening of adjacent frames to each other, a pluralityof substantially parallel and symmetrically arranged louver membershaving arcuate cross-sections disposed within said frame between saidside and intermediate members and joined thereto at their ends, thearcuate portions of said louvers being oriented at an angular relationto the planes defined by the faces of said frame, said front face tosaid side members, and locking means on said frames for releasablymaintaining said frame in engagement within a similar frame, saidlocking means comprising a plurality of notches inserted at the frontedge of said side members and a plurality of lips mounted to the backportion of said side members, said notches and said lips adapted toreleasably interlock and maintain said frames in assembled form.
 7. Agenerally rectangular integrally molded plastic frame having front andrear faces and including side members comprised of slat members havingtheir flat sides disposed in facing relationship with opposed members,each of said side members having a flat raised front portion parallel tosaid side members and being joined to said side members along a frontedge of said side member, said flat raised front portion adapted tooverlap the back portion of an adjacent frame when said frames aremounted in a louver assembly, at least one intermediate supportingmember disposed with its flat sides substantially parallel to said sidemembers, in which said supporting member has at least one guide meansintegrally molded into said support member for the fastening of adjacentframes to each other, a plurality of substantially parallel andsymmetrically arranged louver members having arcuate cross-sectionsdisposed within said frame between said side and intermediate membersand joined thereto at their ends, the arcuate portions of said louversbeing oriented at an angular relation to the plane defined by the facesof said frame, said front face of said side members dimensioned to forman interfitting receptacle for the rear face of a similar frame, andlocking means on said frames for releasably maintaining said frame inengagement with a similar frame when said frames are mounted in a louverassembly, comprising a plurality of notches inserted at the front edgeof said side members and a plurality of lips mounted to the back portionof said side members, said notches and said lips adapted to releasablyinterlock and maintain said frames in assembled form when said framesare mounted in a louver assembly.